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Tuned In Journal: '30' ends its season
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Liz (Tina Fey) faces a pregnancy scare on the season finale of "30 Rock."

What I enjoy most about NBC's "30 Rock" (9:30 tonight, WPXI) is the gonzo glee with which it skewers its targets. Whether it's snooty liberals who decry the spate of reality shows on TV or the ineptitudes of the Bush administration, "30 Rock" shoots down its targets with an impish joy.

In tonight's season finale, all the series regulars get a showcase: Liz (Tina Fey) has a baby mama scare; Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) applies to be a page at the Olympics; Jenna (Jane Krakowski) illustrates "backdoor bragging;" Tracy (Tracy Morgan) continues to develop his pornographic video game and Jack (Alec Baldwin) takes a job in Washington with the Bush administration that doesn't go as planned.

"I don't like to think of this president as a lame duck," Jack tells his new colleague, Cooter (Matthew Broderick). "I like to think of him as a lame eagle."

The Jack story has the most pointed jokes about administration denials of the obvious. Water drips into Jack's office, but Cooter says there's no leak ("I'll show you the study!"). When Jack complains that no one in the office has pens, Cooter gets defensive, saying quickly, "We're not in a recession!"

"30 Rock" is the sharpest satire in prime time (and before "The Daily Show").

But here's what I want to know: Why don't you watch "30 Rock"? Judging by the ratings, few viewers are tuning in (although it's been renewed for next season). Did you try it and decide you don't like it? If so, what don't you like? Or are you just too tied to "CSI" or "Grey's Anatomy" to give "30 Rock" a chance?

TV editor Rob Owen can be reached at rowen@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1112.
First published on May 8, 2008 at 12:00 am
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